Shloka 1
कालनिर्णयः, युगधर्मवर्णनम्, सृष्टिक्रमश्च
Time-Reckoning, Yuga-Dharma, and the Sequence of Creation
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके २ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ३२ श्लोक हैं) अपन प्रात बछ। अर: - शम्याक्षेप कहते हैं शम्यापातको। “शम्या” एक ऐसे काठके डंडेको कहते हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | punar eva tu taṃ śakraḥ prahasann idam abravīt | niḥśvasantaṃ yathā nāgaṃ pravyāhārāya bhārata ||
Bhishma berkata: Wahai Bharata, kemudian Śakra (Indra), sambil tersenyum seakan hendak memamerkan keunggulannya, berbicara lagi kepada Bali—yang mendesis seperti ular, menarik napas dalam amarah dan bersiap menjawab.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical contrast: Indra’s smiling assertion of superiority versus Bali’s controlled but intense readiness to answer. In the larger dialogue, this becomes a lesson on how pride and status are unstable before Kāla (Time), and how true strength lies in insight and restraint rather than mere dominance.
Bhishma narrates to Yudhiṣṭhira: after Bali’s earlier words, Indra again addresses Bali. Bali is described as hissing like a serpent—agitated and about to respond—while Indra speaks with a smile, suggesting provocation or self-display, thereby intensifying the debate.